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Utah Dental Hygiene — Requirements & Free Practice

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Dental Hygienist

Utah dental hygienist license issued by DOPL under Utah Code Title 58, Chapter 69 (license classification under Section 58-69-301(2)(b)).

Licensing authority: Utah Department of Commerce, Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL), with the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Licensing Board · Application information

Licensure by endorsement

All of the following:

  • National Board Dental Hygiene Examination

  • At least one of the following alternatives:

    • All of the following:

      • ADEX Dental Hygiene Computer Simulated Clinical Examination (CSCE OSCE) (practice unavailable)
      • ADEX Dental Hygiene Simulated Patient Treatment Clinical Examination (SPTCE) (assessment without a question bank)
    • CRDTS Dental Hygiene Patient-Based Exam (assessment without a question bank)
    • CRDTS Dental Hygiene Simulated Patient Exam (practice unavailable)
Cpr Certification
Utah Admin. Code R156-69-302c(2) requires passing the CPR-BLS or ACLS-PALS examination as evidenced by current CPR-BLS or ACLS-PALS certification; the application requires a copy of current CPR, BCLS/BLS or ACLS/PALS certification.
Discretionary Examination
Under Utah Admin. Code R156-1-302(4) the Division may require an endorsement applicant to pass one or more of the exams required to obtain licensure in the profession; the examinations in this route apply only when the Division so requires.
Evidence And Fee
Utah Code 58-1-302(5): pay the fee and produce satisfactory evidence of identity, qualifications and good standing; the application requires official license verification and a CV/resume.
License Elsewhere
Utah Code 58-1-302(2): licensed in another U.S. state, district or territory with a similar scope of practice, at least one year of experience under that license, and the license in good standing; 58-1-302(3) also lets the Division license applicants licensed outside the United States, or never licensed, whose education, credentialing examination and experience it finds substantially similar. R156-1-302(2): the other license need not be currently active if the experience requirement is met.
Practice Hours
Utah Code 58-69-302(4)(c): at least 2,000 hours of practice as a dental hygienist in the two years immediately preceding application; the application directs applicants without 2,000 hours to submit all Initial Licensure items.
Prior Qualifications
Utah Code 58-69-302(4)(b): document having met all requirements of 58-69-302(3) (an applicant licensed elsewhere before 1962 documents a state administered examination acceptable to the division), or document licensure elsewhere based on requirements equal to Utah's at the time.
Initial licensure by examination

All of the following:

  • National Board Dental Hygiene Examination

  • At least one of the following alternatives:

    • All of the following:

      • ADEX Dental Hygiene Computer Simulated Clinical Examination (CSCE OSCE) (practice unavailable)
      • ADEX Dental Hygiene Simulated Patient Treatment Clinical Examination (SPTCE) (assessment without a question bank)
    • CRDTS Dental Hygiene Patient-Based Exam (assessment without a question bank)
    • CRDTS Dental Hygiene Simulated Patient Exam (practice unavailable)
Application And Fee
Submit an application in a form the division approves and pay the fee (Utah Code 58-69-302(3)(a)-(b)); the application lists a $60.00 non-refundable processing fee.
Board Interview
Utah Code 58-69-302(3)(h): meet with the board if the board or division requests, to examine the applicant's qualifications.
Cpr Certification
Utah Admin. Code R156-69-302c(2) requires passing the CPR-BLS or ACLS-PALS examination as evidenced by current CPR-BLS or ACLS-PALS certification; the application requires a copy of current CPR, BCLS/BLS or ACLS/PALS certification.
Criminal Background Check
Utah Code 58-69-302(3)(i): consent to and complete a criminal background check under Section 58-1-301.5 and disclose criminal history the division requests.
Discontinued Regional Examinations
The SRTA examination named in R156-69-302c(1)(a) is omitted because R156-69-102(43) states SRTA merged with CRDTS; the WREB, CITA and CDCA examinations are ADEX predecessor examinations that DOPL states are now the ADEX Dental Hygiene examination. A passing score already earned on any of them is accepted as prior evidence (R156-69-302c(1)(a), (c); the application accepts WREB, CDCA, CITA, CRDTS or SRTA score reports).
Education
Graduate holding a certificate or degree in dental hygiene from a school accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association (Utah Code 58-69-302(3)(c)); official transcripts sent directly to DOPL.
English Proficiency
Utah Code 58-69-302(3)(g): be able to read, write, speak, understand and be understood in English and demonstrate proficiency to the satisfaction of the board if the board requests.
Law Rules Ethics Examination
Utah Code 58-69-302(3)(f) requires any law, rules and ethics examination established by division rule; R156-69-302c, the rule that sets dental hygienist examination requirements under 58-69-302(3)(e) and (f), establishes none.
Reinstatement after active practice elsewhere
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Active Practice Elsewhere
Continuously active in dental hygiene since the Utah license expired, in full-time U.S. government employment or under license in another U.S. state or territory (Utah Code 58-1-308(6)(b); R156-1-308g(3)(b)).
Prior License
Former Utah dental hygienist license not reinstated within two years of nonrenewal (Utah Code 58-1-308(6)).
Renewal Qualifications And Fees
Documentation of compliance with renewal qualifications; current annual renewal fee and reinstatement fee.
Timing
Apply within six months after reestablishing Utah domicile or terminating full-time government service.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Reinstatement within two years of nonrenewal
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Fees
Renewal fee and reinstatement fee; within 30 days of expiration, renewal fee and late fee (R156-1-308g(1)).
Prior License
Former Utah dental hygienist license that expired for nonrenewal no more than two years before the reinstatement application (Utah Code 58-1-308(5)(a)(ii)(A)).
Renewal Qualifications
Documentation of compliance with renewal qualifications, including 30 hours of qualified continuing professional education per two-year cycle (R156-69-304a(2)) and current CPR-BLS, ACLS or PALS certification (R156-69-304a(8)).

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Temporary License (Dental Hygienist)

Temporary license that DOPL may issue under Utah Code Section 58-1-303 to a dental hygienist license applicant in the circumstances that section lists.

Licensing authority: Utah Department of Commerce, Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL), with the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Licensing Board

Temporary license for emergency or need
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Division Finding
Division finding, with the board, that a temporary license is necessary or justified by an emergency or governmental action, a lack of necessary services, or a need to observe the applicant in monitored practice before deciding on a regular license (Utah Code 58-1-303(1)(c)(i)-(iii)); R156-1-303 addresses such licenses after a declared disaster.
License Elsewhere
Licensed as a dental hygienist in another state under requirements equal to or greater than Utah's when obtained.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Temporary license pending examination

All of the following:

  • National Board Dental Hygiene Examination

  • At least one of the following alternatives:

    • All of the following:

      • ADEX Dental Hygiene Computer Simulated Clinical Examination (CSCE OSCE) (practice unavailable)
      • ADEX Dental Hygiene Simulated Patient Treatment Clinical Examination (SPTCE) (assessment without a question bank)
    • CRDTS Dental Hygiene Patient-Based Exam (assessment without a question bank)
    • CRDTS Dental Hygiene Simulated Patient Exam (practice unavailable)
Division Discretion
Issuance is at the Division's discretion (58-1-303(1)(a) "may issue").
Issuance Limit
Utah Code 58-1-303(2): not issued more than three consecutive times within three years after the first temporary license.
Other Requirements Met
Utah Code 58-1-303(1)(a): the applicant has met all dental hygienist license requirements except passing an examination, and must take the next available examination; the temporary license expires on release of official results if the applicant fails.
Temporary license to teach or assist
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
License Elsewhere
Licensed as a dental hygienist in another state or country.
Purpose
In Utah temporarily to teach or assist a Utah-licensed resident (Utah Code 58-1-303(1)(b)); issuance at the Division's discretion.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

ADEX Dental Hygiene Computer Simulated Clinical Examination (CSCE OSCE)

Provider
American Board of Dental Examiners; Prometric delivery
Format
Computer-based clinically based questions
Exam questions
Up to 120 items; pilot questions do not affect the final score
Passing score
Minimum scaled score 75; results reported as Pass/Fail
Examination outline
  • Medical/Dental Assessment (12%)
  • Intra and Extra Oral Assessment and Charting (27%)
    • Intra and Extra Oral Examination
    • Dental and Periodontal Charting and Assessment
    • Soft Tissue, Bone, and Tooth Abnormalities
  • Radiology/Imaging (15%)
  • Dental Hygiene Care Planning (13%)
  • Patient Care (19%)
    • Periodontal Procedures
    • Infection Control
    • Medical Emergency Management
  • Dental Specialties and Pharmacology (14%)
    • Dental Specialties
    • Applied Pharmacology
Examination sources

ADEX Dental Hygiene Simulated Patient Treatment Clinical Examination (SPTCE)

This assessment does not have a question bank.

Provider
American Board of Dental Examiners
Format
Simulated patient treatment on maxillary and mandibular typodonts
Passing score
75 or greater; results reported as Pass/Fail for this part
Examination sources

CRDTS Dental Hygiene Patient-Based Exam

This assessment does not have a question bank.

Examination sources

CRDTS Dental Hygiene Simulated Patient Exam

Examination outline
  • Extra/Intra Oral Assessment OSCE — 16 scorable items, 1 point each, 16 maximum points
    • Identify gross head and neck anatomy, variations of normal anatomy, palpation techniques used to examine head and neck extraoral and intraoral structures, and atypical or abnormal findings, whether pathologic or non-pathologic
    • Extraoral — Head, Face, and Neck: asymmetry, infected piercings, swellings, lesions
    • Extraoral — Lymph Nodes, TMJ: description of location, restricted opening
    • Intraoral — Oral Mucosa/Lips and Supporting Structures: lesions, chemical/physical irritations, tattoos, swellings, hematomas, nodules
    • Intraoral — Alveolar Ridge: lesions, chemical/physical irritations, exostosis, torus/tori, tattoos, swellings, hematomas, nodules
    • Intraoral — Palate and Oral Pharynx (tonsils and tonsillar pillars): torus, lesions, chemical/physical irritation, other significant findings
    • Intraoral — Tongue: hairy tongue, fissured tongue, loss of papilla, geographic tongue, glossitis, nodules, lesions
    • Intraoral — Floor of the Mouth: ankyloglossia, hematomas, lesions, tattoos, other significant findings
  • Calculus Detection — 12 scorable surfaces, 1 point each, 12 maximum points
    • Explore 12 random assigned surfaces on the maxillary arch and accurately record presence (Y/Yes) or absence (N/No) of calculus on each surface
    • The maxillary arch is for calculus detection only, not scaling; deposits detected on a line angle are marked on the closest interproximal surface
  • Scaling/Subgingival Calculus Removal — 12 scorable surfaces, 5 points each, 60 maximum points
    • Candidate selects the right or left mandibular quadrant during the initial online application; examiners evaluate 12 surfaces in the selected quadrant
    • Because evaluated surfaces are unknown, explore all subgingival surfaces in the selected quadrant and remove subgingival calculus so no deposits are detectable with an 11/12 explorer; detectable subgingival calculus is a scaling error
    • Supragingival deposit/stain removal is not part of this examination, so rubber cup polishing is not needed or required
  • Periodontal Probing — 12 scorable measurements, 1 point each, 12 maximum points
    • On two randomly assigned teeth in the selected treatment quadrant, chart simulated gingival sulcus/pocket depths within ±1 mm to the nearest mm on six aspects of each tooth: MF, F-midpoint, DF, ML, L-midpoint, and DL
    • Record periodontal measurements after scaling; direct facial and lingual readings are at tooth midpoint with probe parallel to root surface and long axis; interproximal readings place the shank against the contact point and tip slightly into the col; if no contact, place at proximal midpoint and record the same facial and lingual measurement; use light pressure to position the tip to sulcus depth
Examination sources

National Board Dental Hygiene Examination

Examination outline
  • Discipline-Based Component — Scientific Basis for Dental Hygiene Practice (61 items)
    • Anatomic Sciences
    • Anatomic Sciences — Anatomy
    • Anatomic Sciences — Anatomy — Head and neck anatomy
    • Anatomic Sciences — Anatomy — Dental anatomy
    • Anatomic Sciences — Anatomy — Dental anatomy — General anatomy
    • Anatomic Sciences — Anatomy — Dental anatomy — Root anatomy
    • Anatomic Sciences — Anatomy — Histology and Embryology
    • Anatomic Sciences — Physiology
    • Anatomic Sciences — Biochemistry and Nutrition
    • Anatomic Sciences — Microbiology and Immunology
    • Anatomic Sciences — Pathology
    • Anatomic Sciences — Pathology — General
    • Anatomic Sciences — Pathology — Oral
    • Anatomic Sciences — Pharmacology
  • Discipline-Based Component — Provision of Clinical Dental Hygiene Services (115 items)
    • Assessing Patient Characteristics
    • Assessing Patient Characteristics — Medical and dental history
    • Assessing Patient Characteristics — Head and neck examination
    • Assessing Patient Characteristics — Periodontal evaluation
    • Assessing Patient Characteristics — Oral evaluation
    • Assessing Patient Characteristics — General
    • Obtaining and Interpreting Radiographs
    • Obtaining and Interpreting Radiographs — Principles of radiophysics and radiobiology
    • Obtaining and Interpreting Radiographs — Principles of radiologic health
    • Obtaining and Interpreting Radiographs — Technique
    • Obtaining and Interpreting Radiographs — Recognition of normalities and abnormalities
    • Obtaining and Interpreting Radiographs — General
    • Planning and Managing Dental Hygiene Care
    • Planning and Managing Dental Hygiene Care — Infection control (application)
    • Planning and Managing Dental Hygiene Care — Recognition of emergency situations and provision of appropriate care
    • Planning and Managing Dental Hygiene Care — Individualized patient education
    • Planning and Managing Dental Hygiene Care — Individualized patient education — Planning of individualized instruction
    • Planning and Managing Dental Hygiene Care — Individualized patient education — Provision of instruction for prevention and management of oral diseases
    • Planning and Managing Dental Hygiene Care — Individualized patient education — Provision of instruction for prevention and management of oral diseases — Dental caries
    • Planning and Managing Dental Hygiene Care — Individualized patient education — Provision of instruction for prevention and management of oral diseases — Periodontal disease
    • Planning and Managing Dental Hygiene Care — Individualized patient education — Provision of instruction for prevention and management of oral diseases — Oral conditions
    • Planning and Managing Dental Hygiene Care — Individualized patient education — Anxiety and pain control
    • Planning and Managing Dental Hygiene Care — Individualized patient education — Recognition and management of compromised patients
    • Planning and Managing Dental Hygiene Care — Individualized patient education — Dental hygiene treatment strategies
    • Planning and Managing Dental Hygiene Care — Individualized patient education — Dental hygiene treatment strategies — Diagnosis
    • Planning and Managing Dental Hygiene Care — Individualized patient education — Dental hygiene treatment strategies — Treatment plan
    • Planning and Managing Dental Hygiene Care — Individualized patient education — Dental hygiene treatment strategies — Case presentation
    • Planning and Managing Dental Hygiene Care — Individualized patient education — General
    • Performing Periodontal Procedures
    • Performing Periodontal Procedures — Etiology and pathogenesis of periodontal diseases
    • Performing Periodontal Procedures — Prescribed therapy
    • Performing Periodontal Procedures — Prescribed therapy — Periodontal debridement
    • Performing Periodontal Procedures — Prescribed therapy — Surgical support services
    • Performing Periodontal Procedures — Prescribed therapy — Chemotherapeutic agents
    • Performing Periodontal Procedures — Prescribed therapy — General
    • Performing Periodontal Procedures — Reassessment and maintenance (e.g., implant care)
    • Using Preventive Agents
    • Using Preventive Agents — Fluorides - systemic and topical
    • Using Preventive Agents — Fluorides - systemic and topical — Mechanisms of action
    • Using Preventive Agents — Fluorides - systemic and topical — Toxicology
    • Using Preventive Agents — Fluorides - systemic and topical — Methods of administration
    • Using Preventive Agents — Fluorides - systemic and topical — Methods of administration — Water fluoridation
    • Using Preventive Agents — Fluorides - systemic and topical — Methods of administration — Self-administered
    • Using Preventive Agents — Pit and fissure sealants
    • Using Preventive Agents — Other preventive agents
    • Providing Supportive Treatment Services
    • Providing Supportive Treatment Services — Properties and manipulation of materials
    • Providing Supportive Treatment Services — Polishing natural and restored teeth
    • Providing Supportive Treatment Services — Making of impressions and preparation of study casts
    • Providing Supportive Treatment Services — Other supportive services (e.g., tooth desensitization)
    • Providing Supportive Treatment Services — General
    • Professional Responsibility
    • Professional Responsibility — Ethical principles, including informed consent
    • Professional Responsibility — Regulatory compliance
    • Professional Responsibility — Patient and professional communication
    • Professional Responsibility — General
  • Discipline-Based Component — Community Health/Research Principles (24 items)
    • Promoting Health and Preventing Disease Within Groups
    • Participating in Community Programs
    • Participating in Community Programs — Assessing populations and defining objectives
    • Participating in Community Programs — Designing, implementing, and evaluating programs
    • Analyzing Scientific Literature, Understanding Statistical Concepts, and Applying Research Results
  • Case-Based Component (150 items involving 12 to 15 dental hygiene patient cases)
    • Cases present information dealing with adult and child patients and may involve geriatric, adult-periodontal, pediatric, special needs, medically compromised, and other patient types; a medically compromised patient is one whose health status may require modification of standard treatment or special consideration.
    • Patient information is presented by means of patient histories, dental charts, radiographs, and clinical photographs.
    • Assessing patient characteristics
    • Obtaining and interpreting radiographs
    • Planning and managing dental hygiene care
    • Performing periodontal procedures
    • Using preventive agents
    • Providing supportive treatment service
    • Professional responsibility
Examination sources